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7/7/7 meme
Jan. 14th, 2013 11:32 amI got tagged by the lovely ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jl_merrow, so how could I refuse? So here are 7 (unedited) lines/paras from the 7th page of the current WIP, working title "Contemp Mystery" (in which I actually write about something I know well!) And yes, I know it's more than 7 lines/whatever. It's Monday...
“You’d better ring your mother,” Christine reminded him.
“Oh, hell. You’ve saved my life.” Adam leaped out of his chair. If he went out into the lane by the school field and faced south, he could generally get a decent fix on the network. If not he’d have to go to Jennifer cap in hand and beg to use the landline. Maybe it would be easier just to go in and do that in the first place? He was half way through the office door when Jennifer’s voice stopped him.
“Did you enjoy your lunch?”
Adam was about to reply that it had been delicious when he realised he wasn’t the one being addressed.
“Very nice, thank you, Jane.” Marjorie’s clipped tones filled the room. “Did you make those sandwiches all yourself?
“No, although I can take credit for the sponge cake. I’m afraid the others were from Waitrose.” Jennifer admired her own plate of the supermarket’s best. “I always think you deserve the best I can get my hands on.”
“I hope the budget can afford it!” Marjorie sniffed.
“We have to do these things properly. We have to create the right impression on the candidates.” Jennifer turned to Adam, defence counsel calling on an expert witness. “You’d agree, wouldn’t you, Adam? According to Mr. Tunstall it’s a ‘two way process’—they have to sell themselves to us but we have to sell ourselves to them in return.”
“I think there’s some mileage in that,” Adam replied, dreading being caught between these two formidable females. Why the hell hadn’t he just gone straight out of the school?
“Or else it will be last time all over again, won’t it?” Jennifer had the bit between her teeth now.” And then where would the school be? I do worry so much about all the children and what will happen if this keeps dragging on. They deserve a good headteacher.”
“I can’t possibly comment on the likely outcome of the process, you know that.” Marjorie looked at her watch. “Neither of them joined us for lunch, even though there was an open invitation. Are they in the bolt hole?
“Bolt hole? Oh, you mean the children’s kitchen? I don’t think so.” Jennifer waved her hand airily. “Mr. Youngs said he was going out to get some fresh air. I think it’s all a bit stressful for the candidates and they do need to get a bit of a break.”
“Of course they do.” Adam nodded. “That’s exactly why we provided them with somewhere they could get a break from being on continual show. It gets like Cruft’s at times.”
Marjorie sniffed, again, and louder this time. “We were rather hoping they might spend their spare time looking around the school and talking to the children rather than hiding away.”
“Oh, that nice Mr. Ford was certainly keen to do that, even over lunchtime. Last time I saw him, he was being led off by a group of children to eat his sandwiches with them on the field.” Jennifer beamed; it was clear which candidate she’d got her eye on, possibly in more ways than one.
“On the field?” Marjorie’s eyebrows shot up.
“Oh yes. It’s such a lovely day we let the children have a bit of a picnic out there. Much healthier that they get a bit of sunshine on their backs rather than be stuck in the hall.”
“I wish I’d joined them. I feel the need of some fresh air, especially having been cooped up with Oliver most of the morning.” Marjorie eased past Adam, leaving a trail of good quality scent.
“Maybe you could rescue Mr. Ford if he’s still out there,” Jennifer shouted after her. “I wouldn’t put it past some of the year six children to have tied him to a tree by now, pretending he’s a human sacrifice.”
jl_merrow, so how could I refuse? So here are 7 (unedited) lines/paras from the 7th page of the current WIP, working title "Contemp Mystery" (in which I actually write about something I know well!) And yes, I know it's more than 7 lines/whatever. It's Monday...“You’d better ring your mother,” Christine reminded him.
“Oh, hell. You’ve saved my life.” Adam leaped out of his chair. If he went out into the lane by the school field and faced south, he could generally get a decent fix on the network. If not he’d have to go to Jennifer cap in hand and beg to use the landline. Maybe it would be easier just to go in and do that in the first place? He was half way through the office door when Jennifer’s voice stopped him.
“Did you enjoy your lunch?”
Adam was about to reply that it had been delicious when he realised he wasn’t the one being addressed.
“Very nice, thank you, Jane.” Marjorie’s clipped tones filled the room. “Did you make those sandwiches all yourself?
“No, although I can take credit for the sponge cake. I’m afraid the others were from Waitrose.” Jennifer admired her own plate of the supermarket’s best. “I always think you deserve the best I can get my hands on.”
“I hope the budget can afford it!” Marjorie sniffed.
“We have to do these things properly. We have to create the right impression on the candidates.” Jennifer turned to Adam, defence counsel calling on an expert witness. “You’d agree, wouldn’t you, Adam? According to Mr. Tunstall it’s a ‘two way process’—they have to sell themselves to us but we have to sell ourselves to them in return.”
“I think there’s some mileage in that,” Adam replied, dreading being caught between these two formidable females. Why the hell hadn’t he just gone straight out of the school?
“Or else it will be last time all over again, won’t it?” Jennifer had the bit between her teeth now.” And then where would the school be? I do worry so much about all the children and what will happen if this keeps dragging on. They deserve a good headteacher.”
“I can’t possibly comment on the likely outcome of the process, you know that.” Marjorie looked at her watch. “Neither of them joined us for lunch, even though there was an open invitation. Are they in the bolt hole?
“Bolt hole? Oh, you mean the children’s kitchen? I don’t think so.” Jennifer waved her hand airily. “Mr. Youngs said he was going out to get some fresh air. I think it’s all a bit stressful for the candidates and they do need to get a bit of a break.”
“Of course they do.” Adam nodded. “That’s exactly why we provided them with somewhere they could get a break from being on continual show. It gets like Cruft’s at times.”
Marjorie sniffed, again, and louder this time. “We were rather hoping they might spend their spare time looking around the school and talking to the children rather than hiding away.”
“Oh, that nice Mr. Ford was certainly keen to do that, even over lunchtime. Last time I saw him, he was being led off by a group of children to eat his sandwiches with them on the field.” Jennifer beamed; it was clear which candidate she’d got her eye on, possibly in more ways than one.
“On the field?” Marjorie’s eyebrows shot up.
“Oh yes. It’s such a lovely day we let the children have a bit of a picnic out there. Much healthier that they get a bit of sunshine on their backs rather than be stuck in the hall.”
“I wish I’d joined them. I feel the need of some fresh air, especially having been cooped up with Oliver most of the morning.” Marjorie eased past Adam, leaving a trail of good quality scent.
“Maybe you could rescue Mr. Ford if he’s still out there,” Jennifer shouted after her. “I wouldn’t put it past some of the year six children to have tied him to a tree by now, pretending he’s a human sacrifice.”
